And robert d



J. HARRIS AND R. 0. BOGUE.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION mm FEB. 25, I916- 1,308,949. Patented July 8, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HARRIS, OF WYOMING, AND ROBERT I). 13OGUE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE AROMINT COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORA- lION OF OHIO.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented J ly 8, 1919.

Application filed February 25, 1916'. Serial No. 80,409.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

" Be it known that we, JAMES HARRIS and ROBERT D. Boson, citizens of the llnlte'd States, and residents of VVyomlng, 1n the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, and

playing articlesof merchandise, or adver-' tising, or other matter; and its object is to facilitate the preparation of the merchandise or other matter for display when it is received packed or wrapped, or otherwise in; inclosed condition. I 7

Our invention consists in the combination of parts and .in the details of construction more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of a container with merchandise therein, and provided with our invention as we prefer to construct it; I

Fig. '2 is a front elevation of the same on a plane parallel to the front of the container; I

Fig. 8 is a similar rear elevation ofthe same; 7 I a Fig. 41 is a bottom plan view of the same with the parts in the positions that they occupy when the container is inclosed in its cover, but with the cover omitted for sake of clearness;

Fig. 5 is a'perspective view of the same with the cover thereon, but partially 'withdrawn therefrom, showing how the parts assume their operative positions as the cover is withdrawn;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section through part of the bottomof the container and through the operative parts on a plane corresponding to the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modification of our invention; and V Fig. 8 is a partial section similar to Fig. 6, but on a. plane corresponding to the line 88 of Fi 7, and showing the operative relation of the operative parts in the modification.

The preferred use of our invention in facilitating the display of small packages of merchandise. especially confections, such as candy, chewing gum and the like. Accord- I manner.

ingly, the illustrations have been confined to such use, and the drawing. shows: a rectangular box or container 1 with a flat bottom 2, made in any approved'manner out of any suitable material such as paste-board or card-boardf This box 1 contains the articles of merchandise'B, and preferably at its rear end it has an upright cardor sign 1 which may be of any suitable material, such as paste-board or card-board, and may be secured in or to the box 1 in any suitable Such a sign, may, as indicated, bear an advertisement of the merchandise contained infthe box 1 'or marks denoting the price thereof, or may display other advertising'matter or any other matter desired, as is well known in the use of display cards or signs. This card or' sign l'may li'e in the 1 box over the top of the merchandise-3 when and arrangement of parts as Wlll herein be the package is closed'for storage, shipping and handling. v

Fitting around the box 1, closing its top and covering the merchandise 3 and the card or sign 4, if contained therein, is a slide cover 5,'shown fully only in Fig. 5, but indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. This slide cover 5 may be of material similar to that of the box, and'fitting the box snugly, as is well known in the constru'ction and arrangement of containers of this kind.

It will be understood that the box 1 and the slide cover 5, as above described, are old and. well-known structures; and they are described in detail only to more fully elucidate the description of the novel elements of our invention which are incorporated with 1 said box and cover, and which cooperate therewith in a novel manner.

Thus, a. single sheet 6 of suitable material, such as paste-board or card-board of sufficient thickness, is provided, preferably closely approximating in length and width the length and width of the flat bottom 2 of the box or containerl; and an end .part 7 of this sheet 6 is bent down upon the other part, which other part 6 has its flat side secured against the flat bottom 2 of'the'box or container '1, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. Thus the part 6 forms the support for the box or container 1, while the part 7, when bent down, forms a prop to keep the supporting part 6 at such an inclination that the box or container 1 will be supported in an inclined position as seen in Fig. 1, and

which position, in itself, is not novel, it being common to support boxes of merchandise in such a position in order to more prominently display their contents.

However, where containers have been thus supported, it has been necessary to exercise some care in selecting a suitable prop or supporting means to maintain the inclined position; or, where the box has been supplied with some kind of prop or easel, this has required considerable attention in order to bring it into its operative condition when the container is opened or unpacked. It is found in actual commercial experience that where a container requires much attention, it is very likely to not be brought into such an advantageous position by the merchant receiving it; with the result that the merchandise contained in such a container is not as well displayed nor as rapidly sold' as it might be. It is found that a merchant receiidng a container of merchandise with any kind of device that necessitates his learning how to set it up, is not very apt to set up the container as it should be.

In view of these circumstances, we not only provide the sheet of material (3 with its bent-down part 7; but provide means for at once automatically bringing said part or prop 7 into the proper position to render the most stable support for the supporting means and the supported box or container 1 and thenceforth to hold it in such position.

Thus, a transverse slot 9 is cut in the sheet of material 6, preferably with one side lying approximately on the line of folding 8, and with its ends a considerable distance from the adjacent sides of the sheet and having longitudinal slots 10 extending from these ends along the sheet 6 in direction away from the line of folding 8, and continuing as slits 11. Thus, a brace 12 is left which may, on a transverse line 13 which connects the ends of the slits 11, be bent down in the same direction'that the prop 7 is on the line 8. It will be seen that the slot 9 and the slots 10 extending to the slits 11 are merely continuations. of the slits 11, so far as concerns merely allowing this separation of the brace 12 from the main part of the material. I V

The brace 12 thus formed, has, at opposite sides, notches 14 extending inward toward each other, but inclined toward the free end of the tongue; thus leaving a hook-shaped part 15 at each side near the free end of the brace. The prop 7 has, cut in its'free end part, notches 16 which incline in toward each other, leaving in the middle of the free end of the prop 7 a lug 17. An elastic band 18, such as an ordinary rubber band, has the opposite lateral strands passed under the hooks l5 and through the notches 14 of the brace 12, and

has its end loop brought past the free end of the brace; whereupon the other end loop of the band is brought through this loop, thus securing the band to the brace 12. This other end loop of the band 18, when thus brought through, is brought over the lug l7 and into the notches 16 of the prop 7, thus connecting it to the free or lower end of the prop 7. This formation of the parts and arrangement of the band 18 is best seen in Fig. 4-, which shows the device in its flattened condition that it has when the prop 7 and brace 12 are not bent down. This is the condition that the device has when it is placed against the bottom 2 of the box or container 1 in such relative position that the prop 7 and brace 12 are bent down from the bottom 2 and the slide cover 6 is slid onto. the box with its bottom 19 coming under the various parts of the de Vice and holding them up against the bottom of the box, maintaining the device in its flattened condition.

It will: be seen that if the elastic band 18 normally has less length than is required to pass around the hooks and lug, as above described, with the parts in flattened condition, the band 18 will be stretched; and, by tending to resume its. normal length, will pull the free end of the prop 7 down under the brace 12, and will pull the brace 12 down against the adjacent side of the prop 7, thus acting as a gage to insure the correct positioning of the prop 7, as well as thereafter acting as a brace for the prop against further swinging of the prop toward the main part of the sheet of material 6. The prop and brace are so proportioned that the weight imposed upon the main part 6, with the prop 7 supporting it as: hereinbefore described, will tend to swing the prop toward the brace. Thus the clastic band 18, after having effected the automatic positioning of the parts, is relieved of further duty except to hold the free end. of the brace 12 well up on the prop 7, guarding against slippage of the lower or free end of the prop 7 up over the end of the brace, which might occur in some cases, with results injurious to the structure.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the prop 7 and brace 12 will, under the action of the elastic band 18, assume their proper positions as soon as the bottom part 19 of the slide cover 5 is withdrawn from them in either direction. Fig. 5 makes this clear, where the slide cover is indicated as being withdrawn forwardly from the box or container 1 and the operative parts on the bottom thereof. Thus it will be seen that there is absolutely no need of any attention in order to bring the operative parts into their operative positions. In fact, it is diflicult to prevent them from assuming their correct positions when the slide" cover 5 is withdrawn from the box or container 1; and even though a merchant i not aware that the box or container is provided with any means for supporting it in any special position, the means will be brought into operative condition nevertheless; after which its method of operation is so obvious that even the most inattentive person must become aware thereof. Then, not having any positive objection to displaying the merchandise in this way, but only having had a negative objection on account of the attention required in setting up a device that does not adjust itself automatically, the merchant will leave the box or container supported in the desired manner.

It will be seen that the slot 9 is provided rather than merely a slit, because it leaves room for the strands of the elastic band 18 when the parts are in flattened condition. The other slots 10 are provided rather than merely slits, for convenience in manufacture, since this enables the slot 9 and the notches 14 in the sides of the tongue 12 to all be cut with the same punch and die. It will also be seen that it is advantageous to have the line of folding 8 coincident with the longest side of the slot 9 and the line of folding 13 coincident with the ends of'the slits 11; because the material folds more readily at these points, and it is thus possible to afiord more uniform folding if this operation is performed by hand. Likewise, it is preferable, as hereinbefore alluded to, to have the sheet of material 6 as near as practicable the same size as the bottom 2 of'the box or container 1, thereby affording the maximum surface for attachment to the box or container 1,'which is preferably by pasting or gluing.

It will be understood, however, that these minor details may be varied as desired, or in accordance with particular requirements, such as when different kinds of material are used in making the parts, or where the box or container must have some difierent shape than that herein shown. Likewise, it will be understood that the use of the parts thus combined and arranged for automatic assumption of operative position is not confined to the support of a container; but that they may be made to support a mere card or sign or any other object which it is desired shall be supported in any required po sition for any reason. In this connection it may also be noted that the angle of inclination may vary considerably from that herein indicated; this being readily accomplished by varying the relative proportions of the parts with due regard to the stability of the object when supported.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown another example of our invention in which the parts when they have been brought into their operative positions, may be secured therein with more permanence than is alforded merely by the holding of the elastic band in the preceding example. The modified prop 7 and brace 12 have, as in the preceding example, the notches 1a and 16 defining the hooks 15 and lugs 17, and the elastic band 18 will make this modified device automatically come into operative condition, whereupon the permanent fastening means may be made to supplement the band 18 in holding the parts in their proper position; or, where automatic positioning of the parts is not reqifiired, the elastic band may be dispensed wit 7 As here shown, this more permanent fastening means comprises a tongue 20, preferably a small strip of thin metal, which has at one end a hook 21 passing through a small slot 22 in the end part of the brace 12 and clenched against the upper side of the brace, and a free end part 23 that projects past the end of the brace 12 to pass through a small slot 2& in the free end part of the prop 7' and be bent down on the side thereof away from the engaging end of the brace 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a display device, in combination wlth means to hold matter to be displayed, a prop and a brace hinged to said means to SWlIlg downward against each other, whereby the brace holds the prop in operative position to support said means in position for display of said matter, said prop and brace being adapted to lie against the side of said means, out of operative position, removable means for holding said prop and brace against said side, and selft-acting means connected to said prop and to said brace, respectively, to automatically swing said prop and brace down from said side and hold the end of the brace against the lower end part of the prop.

2. In a display device, in combination with means to hold matter to be displayed, a prop and a brace hinged to said means to swing downward against each other, whereby the brace holds the prop in operative position to support said means in position for display of said matter, self-acting means connected to said prop and to said brace, respectively, to automatically swing them together, and means supplementary to said self-acting means to hold said prop and brace together in inoperative position.

3. In a display device, in combination with means to hold matter to be displayed, a

prop and a brace hinged to said means to swing downward against each other, whereby the brace holds the prop in operative position to support said means in position for display of said matter, self-acting means connected to said prop and to said brace,

respectively, to automatically swing them for display of said matter, said prop and brace being adapted to lie against the side of the said means, out of operative position, and self-acting means connected to said prop and to said brace, respectively, to automatically swing said prop and brace down from said side and hold the end of the brace against the lower end part of the prop, and a removable cover slid onto and surround ing said article, with its bottom sliding across said prop and brace and holding them up against said side.

In a display device, in combination with an article having a fiat side, a single flat sheet of material comprising a flat main part with its flat side attached to said flat side of said article and having a recess in it, and comprising a. flat prop hinged to one,

end of said main part and adapted to lie up against said flat side of the article, and comprising a brace hinged on said main part in said recess therein to lie up against said flat side in substantially the same plane as that of the prop when lying against said flat side, said prop and brace being adapted to swing down against each other whereby the brace holds the prop in operative position to support said article in position for display.

6. In a display device, in combination with an article having a fiat side, a single fiat sheet of material comprising a flat main part with its fiat side attached to said flat side of said article and comprising a fiat prop hinged to one end of said main part and comprising a brace hinged on said main part, said prop and brace being adapted to swing down against each other whereby the brace holds the prop in operative position to support said article in position for display, said prop and brace being adapted to lie against said flat side of the article, out of operative position, removable means for holding said prop and brace against said side, and self-acting means connected to said prop and to said brace, respectively, to automatically swing said prop and brace down from said. side and hold the end of the brace against the lower end part of the prop.

7 In a display device, in combination with an article having a flat side, a single fiat sheet of material comprising a flat main part with its flat side attached to said fiat side of said article, a fiat prop hinged to one end of said main part and adapted to lie up against said flat side of the article, a brace hinged on said main part to lie up against said flat side, said prop. and brace being adapted to swing down against each other side of said article and comprising a flat prop hinged to one end of said main part and comprising a brace hinged on said main part, said prop and brace being adapted to swing down against each other whereby the brace holds the prop in operative position to support said article in position for display, said prop and brace being adapted to lie against said fi'atside of the article, out of operative position, contractible means connected to said prop and to said brace, respectively, to automatically swing said prop and brace down from said side and hold the end of the brace against the lower end part of the prop, and a removable covering surrounding said article, with its bottom across said prop and brace and holding them up against said side.

9. In a display device, in combination with an article having a flat side, a single fiat sheet of material comprising a fiat main part with its flat side attached to said flat side of said article, one end of said main part being bent down to form a flat prop adapted to lie up against said fiat side of the article, said main part having a transverse out near the line of bending of said prop, and having other cuts or slots extending longitudinally from near the end of said out or slot in direction away from said line of bending, and the part of the material between said cuts being bent down, thereby forming a brace hinged on said main part to lie up against said flat side, said prop and brace being adapted to swing down against each other, whereby the brace holds the prop in position to support said article in position for display.

10. In a display device, in combination with an article having a. fiat side, a single flat sheet of material comprising a flat main part with its fiat side attached to said flat side of said article, one end of said main part being bent down to form a flat prop adapted to lie up against said flat side or the article, and having notches in its free end, forming a. lug between the notches,

said'main part. having a transverse out near,

the line of bending of said prop, and having other cuts extending longitudinally from near the ends of said out or slot in direction away from said line of bending, and the part of the material between said cuts being bent down, thereby forming a brace hinged on said main part to lie up against said flat side or to incline toward the prop when swung down, said brace having in opposite sides notches extending i11- ward toward each other, and self-acting means connected to said prop and to said brace, respectively, near their free ends by passing around said lug and through the notches in the brace, and adapted'to automatically swing said prop and brace down from said part and hold the end of the brace against the lower end part of the prop.

11. In a display device, in combination with a rectangular container having a flat bottom, a single fiat sheet of material comprising a fiat main part with its flat side attached to said bottom, a flat prop hinged on one end of the main part and adapted to lie 11 against said bottom, a brace hinged on said main part to lie up against said bottom, said prop and brace being adapted to swing down against each other whereby the brace holds the prop in position to support said container in position for display, self-acting means connected to said propand to said brace, respectively, to automatically swing said prop and brace down from said bottom and hold the end of the brace against the lower end part of the prop, and a rectangular slide cover surrounding said container, with its bottom sliding across said prop and brace and holding them up against said flat bottom.

JAMES HARRIS. ROBERT D. BOGUE.

Witnesses CLARENCE PERDEW, CATHERINE DORAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

